Armor in CoP

Im trying ironman in CoP after achieving it in SoC. And i run into issue of not having good armor. I get CS armor+helmet from Nimble rather early. But after that - thats it. I didn't find anything that protects better AND has at least 1 artifact slot. I bought Bulat but it doesn't get artifact slot until T3 and at that point i might as well get exo.

Any advice here? I'm dying pretty fast with CS armor and last death right before going to Pripyat from random chimera in the middle of nowhere was very saddening. I have the money but dont have what to buy :(